Books

One of the few resolutions/challenges that I have semi-kept up with is the challenge of reading 50 books this year.
I am going to list some of the titles I have read here- I will try and list the second part closer to the end of the year. Sorry for the lack of author's names. If I took the time to find all of those, this would never get posted.

1.Made to Crave
2.Who Loves You Best
3.My Nest isn't Empty; It just has More Closet Space
4.Time of My Life
5.The Girl Who Fell from the Sky
6.MiniShopaholic
7.Organized Simplicity
8.The One that I Want
9.Look Again
10.I Remember Nothing
11.You Don't Look Like Anyone I Know
12.Getting In
13.Amazing Adventures of Diet Girl
14.Home Safe
15.The Writer's Circle
16.The Department of Lost and Found
17.A Bump in the Road
18.Not Ready for Mom Jeans
19.Backseat Saints
20.Too Much Happiness
21.Bossypants
22.Everyone worth Knowing
23.My Monastery is a Minivan
24.Live More, Want Less
25.The Hunger Games
26.Catching Fire
27.Mockingjay
28.Someone will be with You Shortly
29.The End of Overeating
30.My Fair Lazy
31.Thin is the New Happy
32.Working it Out
33.Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone
34.Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets
35.Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban
36.Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire
37.Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix
38.Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince
39.Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows
40.The Happiness Project

Still on track to get 50 read. I have about 3 or 4 books going currently. If holiday things don't get too out of control, I should complete this challenge.

An AHA moment for me

I saw this quote on pinterest this week, and it really hit home with me. Then, I was reading one of my favorite blogs, the Nesting Place, and she had this video. I really think this is one of those messages I am meant to be seeing this week. As the dissatisfaction with my own work grows, I need not to quit, but to keep going and put out even more work, so that I can get past this. I never knew this was common, and I was always sad to be disappointed in my work. Now, I am going to view it as closing the gap.

Ira Glass on Storytelling from David Shiyang Liu on Vimeo.

Love This!- (not love this?)

Typography from Ronnie Bruce on Vimeo.

Technology and Me... NOT a love story

(not my home office, but I can dream, right?)

Spent a lot of today trying to do things with my laptop, and not getting them done. Things that I spent 3 hours attempting to accomplish this morning, my husband walked in and did in 5 minutes after work, only after I insisted he come into the room with the actual computer in it and not tell me from the basement that I had everything I needed. SOOO frustrating for me, but now I should be able to do the things I was trying to do this morning the next time I have time. (should be Friday morning, I think...)
Planning to record for my HEALTHY follow on tomorrow, I hope, and then do some other blogging later in the week.
Spending time at this desk today has shown me I have some more work to do to make the office workable for me. I need to do this while spending the least amount of money. I will be searching the web for ideas and also, an inexpensive and smaller office chair- there is NOT enough room behind this desk for me and this chair! First purchase today- a surge protector to help contain some of the cords. Also, an e-mail to my handyman to move an outlet from behind the bookcases. I am in the land of electrical spaghetti here, people.
I also decided I want to replace some of the photos on my photo ledge with more of my family. I used to think that would be weird to show for my photo business, but now I think I would just rather look at my family in my office. No offense to other clients, but I can show different finishes and mountings with my kids just as easily as with others.
Did get photoshop loaded on this machine today- so hopefully I can edit photos if I have time tomorrow afternoon before the chorus concert. Whew- March is already here, and I have a lot of things I need to be doing. Working on the not panicking and actually doing things that can be finished. Time for bed, so I will be back at it tomorrow. Good night- what thing is on your list that you need to FINISH? got anything lurking on its third or fourth to do list?? (or is that just me?)

Currents

listening to podcasts of The Paperclipping Roundtable
eating too much- even of the good stuff
drinking unsweetened iced tea, now that I gave up soda, is that any better?
wearing t-shirts with cardigans and scarves, and still boots
feeling a little overwhelmed by all I want to accomplish but can’t seem to start
wanting a mirrored chest at Tuesday Morning- may go get it tomorrow if it is still there
needing a few more hours of sleep than I've been managing the last few nights
thinking too much and not doing enough
enjoying reading and my job
wondering how to get more hours or just more productive hours
creating not much- trying to put that on my list, reupholstering a chair for what seems like forever
procrastinating by creating lists instead of scratching them off, sometimes the same list more than once!
pondering lots of ideas from what I am reading and my inability to truly cross off the things that I seem to care about, given how many times I’ve written them on lists
loving spending time with my girls doing fun things, especially free ones
anticipating a day off tomorrow, and the chance to do a few things
reading Split Ends, The Grace of God, One Thousand Gifts, Made to Crave and magazines
organizing my office
decorating my bathroom, just a little bit

This came from Lee at Embrace Life I like these simple answer these questions type of posts. Makes it easier to blog some things.
Trying to work through some eating issues (what else is new, I like to eat more than I need) and have been feeling a bit low in that I have found some old lists (a hazard of really cleaning in the office) and many of the things on my current lists can be found on old lists, too. They are still not done. No matter how many lists I put them on. That is sad to me. It makes my thinking and planning and list making seem futile. I know it isn't, but I found a list where I was trying to do much of what I am trying to do for my healthy life right now, and the only habit that has stuck from that list from 2007? Making my bed every day. The only thing keeping me from crying over that, is that at least making my bed is now such a habit that I cannot imagine leaving it unmade on any day. Maybe some of these other habits could become lifestyle changes for me.
Project lists are much the same- I have had a similar project list for many years for this house. I think I am going to pick out 6 projects to complete this year. Some of them are expensive, and they may have to wait, but some are not, and they can get done. One of the things I don't like about the Designed To Sell show on HGTV (and I do like the show) is that the people don't do anything to make their house nice until they want to sell it. I do NOT want to be those people- I want to like my house while I am living in it, not offer it for sale to someone in better shape than I lived in it.

Alright, enough belly aching by me- I am going to work on photos this weekend, and hopefully that means I will have some photo centered posts for next week. I am trying to get a system down for working on photos and scrapbooking and reading. Once I tried to list everything I had to do in a week and include some time for all of my hobbies, like photography, reading, scrapbooking, and exercise. I added up the hours and it was more hours than exist, so I want to adjust. Apparently I can do it all, just not all in the same week. (There I go making lists again!)

What are your currents?

Valentine Cuteness

I'll try to keep better track, but somewhere on the web led me to these adorable Valentine brownie bags. I love them. I love the idea of bringing them in for my coworkers on Valentine's Day. (next Monday, which means, get cracking!)
I am not sure if it will be brownies, or a fun Chex mix with holiday M&Ms in it, like here, or something different. But I definitely want to show the love on that day.

Healthy Update

Keeping up with my HEALTHY resolutions-
I WILL
Healthy Body
sleep 8 hours a night- still not up to 8 hours, but working on it. Still not turning on the TV unless I think the weather warrants it.
give up soda- still no soda since January 17
drink more water- drinking more, probably still not enough
eat 5 fruits and veggies a day- pretty good with this, since they are free on WW
walk the dog 5x a week- twice in two weeks does not earn me any gold stars
take three classes a week (yoga, etc.)- yoga is a go, nothing else yet
stretch with Alyssa 2x a week- managed this twice, and then Alyssa pulled her hamstring (not stretching with me!) so it will be a bit longer before that becomes regular habit- Alex may have to step in for a bit.

Healthy Mind
read 50 books in a year- I finished The Girl who Fell From the Sky and The One Who Loves You Best these 2 weeks. I think I counted up 20 books I have right now either on my kindle or in a basket that I want to read. All of them. Right now.
complete 2 photography projects- haven’t picked projects yet (still- need to look for project #1)
meditate (work up to 10 minutes at a time)- haven’t worked on this yet
create a monthly review scrapbook layout- behind on January, but it isn’t a great picture taking month for me. Hoping to catch up before February is over
visit a museum once a month- still a no for the year- must put on calendar
complete the scrapbooking classes I sign up for- FAIL. Plan to make a list of currently unfinished classes to put my things in order for.
complete NaNoWriMo in January- FAILED. But want to keep writing, so that is good.

Healthy Finances
complete Dave Ramsey class-decided I will miss too many classes with Dance, etc, and Mark travelling, so I am going to work through the book
feel in control- Not yet
monthly meeting with Mark- did my homework while he was gone, working on better control

Healthy Marriage
date night once a month with Mark (and the financial meeting doesn't count)- no date night, no plans. I guess if I want one, I better plan one.

Healthy Home
organized cleaning plan- need a better plan- would like to start cleaning things out, and definitely need a plan for that
completing projects in a timely manner (I will try and make a list of projects for each month)- haven’t made my full list yet- and now it is the middle of February, so I need to get on that!
In January, my one goal is to finish reupholstering the chair I started in the fall- started recovering it, decided I wanted different fabric, waited a week to get fabric, got fabric, started upholstering it, decided it needed covered buttons on the back. Covered buttons, but now need upholstery needle to finish attaching buttons. Buying tomorrow.

Healthy Spirit
daily devotional time and more prayer-Reading the One Year Bible pretty regularly, also my boss gave me a book by Andy Stanley called The Grace of God which is really good for me, and is helping me with some issues I have.
I WILL TRY AND UPDATE MY PROGRESS SEMI WEEKLY> GOING FOR WEEKLY, BUT MIGHT NOT HAPPEN

HEALTHY- how's that going for you?

Keeping up with my HEALTHY resolutions-
I WILL
Healthy Body
sleep 8 hours a night- going to bed earlier, not up to 8 hours a night, though. Trying not to turn on the tv in the bedroom at night. So far, so good with that.
give up soda- started Sonoma Diet Wave 1 this week, so no soda since Saturday
drink more water- drinking more- having some at breakfast since no juice this 10 days
eat 5 fruits and veggies a day- right now all veggies, since I am on wave 1 for Sonoma- no fruit until next Tuesday.
walk the dog 5x a week- FAIL FAIL FAIL- temperatures not cooperating, either.
take three classes a week (yoga, etc.)- yoga is a go, nothing else yet
stretch with Alyssa 2x a week- FAIL FAIL

Healthy Mind
read 50 books in a year- I’ve read My Nest isn’t Empty, The One that I want, Organized Simplicity, and MiniShopaholic since the year started
complete 2 photography projects- haven’t picked projects yet
meditate (work up to 10 minutes at a time)- haven’t worked on this yet
create a monthly review scrapbook layout- will do it the first week of the following month
visit a museum once a month- tried to go in DC, but it wasn’t open
complete the scrapbooking classes I sign up for- Darci Dowdle, I am sorry. I am planning on getting pictures printed, etc. this weekend for her class.
complete NaNoWriMo in January- I’m WAAAAAY behind, but I want to keep writing

Healthy Finances
complete Dave Ramsey class-hasn’t started yet
feel in control- not yet
monthly meeting with Mark- planned one for this week

Healthy Marriage
date night once a month with Mark (and the financial meeting doesn't count)- not yet, making plans

Healthy Home
organized cleaning plan- my only plan so far is my group cleaning on the weekend, but that has helped
completing projects in a timely manner (I will try and make a list of projects for each month)- haven’t made my full list yet
In January, my one goal is to finish reupholstering the chair I started in the fall- bought stapes for the staple gun this week

Healthy Spirit
daily devotional time and more prayer-retreat was good, but still need it to be a daily habit.
I WILL TRY AND UPDATE MY PROGRESS SEMI WEEKLY> GOING FOR WEEKLY, BUT MIGHT NOT HAPPEN

Since this is the last week of the month, I have a lot to do this week!!

Trying Not to Feel Behind

I am behind in my word count for NaNoWriMo. I plan to write extra tomorrow night, Friday night and I should have extra time to make up some on the weekend. I am trying very hard not to start beating up on myself for this, but I am starting to lose sight of some other goals while working on the book.
I am going to take Gretchen Rubin's advice (she of The Happiness Project) and make myself a score sheet of sorts, with places to actually mark off each aspect of my resolutions and how well I am performing them. I think it will help to keep me focused on my goals, and much like crossing things off of a list, it will give me a sense of accomplishment.
I am all for a report card. It is the nerdy good student in me.
So excited about the 50 books in a year, too. I have finished one, and I am about halfway through 3 others at this point. I love books. I went to the library to pick up a book on organization (a favorite reading topic) I had reserved this afternoon, and I came home with 3 novels, too. How am I supposed to write with all of this reading to do? Although, it is nice to have some free hobbies, because I am trying to get my finances in order, and ever since I made that mental promise, stuff has been happening. (car needs a fuel pump, kid needs glasses, church retreat is this month, etc.)
I have to figure out how to make a list of my 50 books to put on the side bar of my blog. More to do and figure out- I don't know how anyone is ever bored!- there is way more to learn and do than I have time for.
On my way to read a bit before bed. I am hoping for extra sleep tonight.

Daily December Album

The following are the pages of my December Daily album. I uploaded them mainly for my friend Susan, who also created a daily December album in Georgia. Enjoy the pages if you haven't seen it before. I have done this album in 2008 and 2009. I really like looking back on them, and even though it is a bit of a pain, I love having them done. This year, however, I am going to set it up in the summer, so it isn't quite so crazy in December. (I say this every year, but I really think I am going to get it done this year.)

My Family

This is my beautiful family. My siblings and their families. All together at Christmas, which is fantastic. I am almost finished with my December Daily album- have to wait on a few photos to print at Walmart (used some from the iPhone- that's a first) and then I think I can finish it in about an hour. Hopefully there will be photos soon.

Happy New Year

Well, the New Year has arrived, and while it still looks very much like the old year around here, since I haven't taken down any Christmas decorations, I am welcoming it.

Alex and I started our National Novel Writing Month this evening, and I just finished my daily word count. A novel of 50,000 words is the goal at the end of the month. For the uninitiated, NaNoWriMo is actually in November, but any mom with kids knows that is not a good month to start a project that big. Our thought was that not much was going on in January, but boy does it sneak up on you. I figure no month would be good, so I am on my way. It is feeling like young adult fiction right now, and I am pretty happy with that. We'll see how it is going at the end of the month.

I am trying desperately to finish my Daily December album, so this post will be short. I am working on posting frequently to the blog, so some may be shorter than others. Tomorrow, I will try and have photos of my Daily December, or my newly un-decorated and cleaned house, or something. I am working on my NEW laptop (a Christmas gift from loving husband) and I have no photo software installed on it, so I cannot put my own photos in my blog posts currently without a lot of effort.

One Little Word- Healthy

For the past few years Ali Edwards has sponsored a movement called One Little Word. There is even a Big Picture Class for it this year. I have participated for the past four years. This year my word is HEALTHY. I am creating 6 categories for this word.
Healthy Body, Healthy Mind, Healthy Finances, Healthy Home, Healthy Spirit and Healthy Marriage. After being sort of out of things most of the fall due to my back issues, I really want to concentrate on getting and staying healthy. I have many ideas about how to do this, and since this is my blog, I am going to outline most of them here so that I can always find it!
Healthy Body
goals- sleep 8 hours a night, give up soda, drink more water, eat 5 fruits and veggies a day, walk the dog 5x a week, take three classes a week (yoga, etc.)and stretch with Alyssa 2x a week
Healthy Mind
goals- read 50 books in a year, complete 2 photography projects, meditate (work up to 10 minutes at a time), create a monthly review scrapbook layout, visit a museum once a month, and complete the scrapbooking classes I sign up for, complete NaNoWriMo in January
Healthy Finances
goals- complete Dave Ramsey class, feel in control, monthly meeting with Mark
Healthy Marriage
goals- date night once a month with Mark (and the financial meeting doesn't count)
Healthy Home
goals- organized cleaning plan, completing projects in a timely manner (I will try and make a list of projects for each month) In January, my one goal is to finish reupholstering the chair I started in the fall.
Healthy Spirit
goals- daily devotional time and more prayer
This is a lot, but I really do want to make some changes. I know that practice makes me better at most things, so blogging and taking pictures and scrapbooking are all things I want to make more time for. Not sure where that time is coming from since I want to go to bed earlier, but I am hoping being more organized will help with that.

New Year's- the Ultimate Start Over

We have arrived at one of my favorite parts of the year- the cusp of a new one. While I can take any moment and make it a time of beginning so that I can make lists of things to do or improve (moving, school starting, summer starting, etc.), this is the one the whole world joins me in. It is almost overwhelming, how many things I want to do and change.

First, there is the One Little Word challenge by Ali Edwards. I will post more on that in the next couple of days- my word is ready to roll, but all of the details are not.

Then, there are project goals I want to accomplish. I am not a crazy project every week girl, but there are many things I want to finish, or start and finish, and using the blog to document them might help me stay a little bit accountable. (to myself and the other 3 people who occasionally pop by to read this.)

Alex wants to read 50 books in a year, and I think that sounds admirable and probably doable. I probably have 50 books in the house that I haven't read that I wanted to at some point. I also have a shiny new Kindle just waiting to hold books for me. :)

I have multi-dimensional resolutions- ever the optimist about changing at the beginning of the year. I am still working with pen and paper to get everything all clear in my head, but one of the goals is to publish here frequently in 2011. At least to show all of my projects and photos and such.

Of course, there are the overachievers- Susan pointed me to one tonight- a stay at home mom and scrapbooker who manages daily posts to her blog with photos, a book a week, a project a week, posting on the Weekly Gratitude blog, and serving on design teams for scrapbooking. Who are we kidding?? I am really glad the internet was not around when my kids were little- I would have felt like quite the slacker.

Nevertheless, I am quite busy right now thinking of how much better I could be by the end of 2011. Some of my thoughts are for the long term, some are until I solve a problem or complete a project, but the thoughts, they are legion. When I have a clearer plan formulated, I will be back here (maybe tomorrow or the 1st) to lay it all out there and have something to look back on.

Do you have any resolutions? one little word? let me know...

Birthday Post 2010 Andrea Adams, photographer, Stafford, VA

Forty Four things on my Forty Fourth Birthday


1. I want to write a book.
2. I wish I could clean my house by blinking like Jeannie on I Dream of Jeannie. It would free up a lot of time.
3. I have so many projects in my head, and there are many lists in many locations with multiple projects written on them.
4. I am trying to learn to meditate. It is much more difficult to sit and be still than one might think. My brain goes into overdrive.
5. I wrote down all of the things I would like to spend some time each day on (Bible Study, piano, photography, reading, cleaning, laundry, business, etc.) It added up to more hours than I had available. That has frustrated me.
6. I am trying to decide if I want to take a steady part time job in the fall or stick with subbing.
7. I really love the Body Combat class at the gym.
8. I cannot wait to go to the beach- partly for the relaxation, and partly for the photos I get to take.
9. I am looking for a parking lot carnival so I can take photos of a ferris wheel, and I can’t find one. Where are they? How do you find one?
10. I love summer dresses and skirts. I would wear them everyday if I had enough.
11. I want to visit some colleges this summer with Alex.
12. Organization is my biggest issue in getting things done. I keep trying to organize and I set up systems, but follow through is my downfall.
13. Homemade chocolate chip cookies are one of my favorite things in the world.
14. My favorite TV show this year is Chuck.
15. I can’t survive without paper towels in the kitchen. I read about paperless kitchens, and it just seems unimaginable to me.
16. My craft room is a disaster right now, and it makes me sad because it is hard to be creative in there. See numbers 2 and 3.
17. Sometimes I need a Diet Dr. Pepper.
18. I spend too much money. On everything.
19. I could read for several hours every day. I wish I had a kindle and an unlimited amazon card. There are also many lists of books I want to read lying around. I should get all of that onto goodreads.
20. I have everything to paint my bedroom- now I just need to do it.
21. I love Target.
22. For someone who spends 95% of her time on this one exit, I have to put gas in my car a lot.
23. We are currently trying to buy Tony a used truck.
24. I do not think I am old enough for both of my parents to be gone.
25. The beach calms me down instantly. Just stepping onto it, I feel my heart rate slow down and my breathing deepen.
26. I wish I were really excellent at SOMETHING- not just kind of good at many things.
27. I would love to get a fine arts degree in photography, design, or even painting.
28. I wish I could hunt for furniture to repaint/refinish and have a place to refinish it easily.
29. I want to live in the Pottery Barn catalog or the Ballard Design catalog.
30. My kids are awesome- smart, nice, good to each other- sometimes I am amazed at how well they are turning out.
31. I am really going to try and assimilate the ideas behind the Women, Food and God book- which is the same thing in Weigh Down, and the same in Martha Beck’s book. I know this is the answer- I just need to implement it.
32. I don’t think I am allowed to really fall apart, and I don’t know what would happen if I really let myself go.
33. I love reading blogs on line, particularly those of creative women who post photos of everything they are doing. I really envy everything they are getting done.
34. My age doesn’t bother me.
35. White chocolate is not chocolate.
36. I went to the midnight showing of Eclipse in a hand painted t-shirt that matched my girls’. It was fun.
37. The Harry Potter trailer made me really excited for the movie.
38. I want to make plans to go to DC to take some pictures and for other trips to museums.
39. I want to make my house the house I really want to live in. Hence the lists.
40. I wear spf 70 on my face every single day and I still have dark patches.
41. I am making an effort to go to the pool more this summer and read. Hoping to help with the relaxing efforts. My stress levels are a bit high.
42. I wish I had a really cute haircut that didn’t require a lot of work.
43. I like walking the dog every day.
44. My life is pretty good- I need to appreciate it more often.

Ten on Tuesday (kind of) Andrea Adams, photographer

Ten on Tuesday (I know its Wednesday, but Monday was a holiday, so this still counts, right?)

1. Finished with LOAD for May 2010. Actually completed all 31 layouts and got them uploaded on time.





2. Ordered a computer battery for my laptop. I have been plugged in to my laptop turned desktop for several months now. Finally splurged the $45 to get a new battery. Who knew they were so cheap? I love amazon.com.



3. Have postponed my NaNoWriMo until July. Hoping to have Alex and maybe Alyssa join me. Am waiting for successful tales from DeAun and her girls with their June editions. (I totally just typed tails- is that Freudian? Or just bad typing?)

4. Still trying to find a balance of home/work/home- improvement time. SOOO many things I want to do. So many things I actually already have the supplies for. JUST DO IT should be my mantra. Bought paint for the bedroom- it hasn’t been tinted yet, but I bought the paint.

5. Alex takes the SAT this week. Lots of stress this week as well. Can’t wait for Saturday evening.

6. Going strong on the exercise plan- now attempting to put a better eating plan in place. No refined sugar for a month. (except for one graduation party where I know there will be a cake made by pretty Amy!) I will be having some kind of birthday cake on my birthday, though. Hopefully, moderation in July. I may not be very nice in June.

7. Bible Study covered the story of Abraham taking Isaac up the mountain to sacrifice him last night. I think Beth Moore had a good point when she said to notice that God didn’t ask Sarah to do it. Made me feel a little better about my emotions concerning that story. (Genesis 22 if you want to read it.)

8. Need to work on Abbey’s scrapbook for Michele. Plan to use one or two full days to get it done. If not called in to sub tomorrow, I think tomorrow will be day one.

9. Was reading about Ali Edwards’ one little word for 2010 again today on her blog, and I CANNOT REMEMBER MY WORD. Obviously, it is not having much of an impact on me this year. She did say it wasn’t too late to change it. If anyone reading this remembers my word, would you leave it in the comments, please? I can remember my word for 2008- less, and my word for 2009- better, but 2010? A total blank. If I can’t remember it, I may come up with a new one.

10. Got my hair cut yesterday. Finally. It is just to my shoulders now. Pretty cute, I think. I didn’t use a curling iron on it today, and it looked o.k. Was hoping for a photo, but that will have to wait a day or two.

Layouts from Layout a Day for May 2010

Here are a few layouts from this week- 29 layouts done and uploaded, and 2 more to go. Unless something major happens, I will be finishing strong. So excited to be getting pages done again. Need to clean up my scraproom so that this is not such a big deal.

Andrea Adams, photographer, Stafford, VA

I missed yesterday's Ten on Tuesday. I was subbing, and I honestly couldn't think of 10 good things (how sad is that?) and I didn't have access to photos. So- today is a list of Summer Reading: (I apologize in advance for the differing sizes of book photos- not a computer glitch so much as a brain glitch on my part!)



The Particular Sadness of Lemon Cake by Aimee Bender
This book does not come out until June 1, 2010. It was in the suggested summer reading in Real Simple magazine.


Another book by the same author- I'll confess, I am drawn totally to the title.



How did you get this number? by Slowan Crosley is described as a very funny series of travel stories. It sounds like a good light read, although after last night's book club selection- I am skeptical of claims of funny. (do not waste your time on The English Major is all I'm saying.)



Admission by Jean Hanff Korelitz is the story of an ivy league admissions officer- although this one is fiction. Maybe I am just obsessed with getting the daughter into college, but this sounded good.



Generosity: an Enhancement by Richard Powers is about an unnaturally happy and contented young woman and the people who want her DNA in order to create the world's first happiness gene.


Speaking of happiness, this book by Martha Beck is intriguing to me also. Since beginning The Happiness Project, I am interested in ways to be happier. And, I like Martha Beck, new age weirdness and all.



Nine Rooms of Happiness by Lucy Danziger and Catherine Birndorf is another book on the happiness train- it is on order at my library, but I can't remember if it is already out.



The Vanishing Act of Esme Lennox by Maggie O'Farrell is the story of a girl who finds out about an aunt she never knew who has been living in a mental hospital. Apparently she showed a little too much spunk and individuality for her time.

Four others I am looking forward to reading- nothing complicated or deep, I don't think, in any of these- they just appealed to me:






Now, it is your turn to tell me what you are planning to read this summer.